Display-stay for shoes



(No Model.)

J. 0. F. DICK. DISPLAY STAY FOR SHOES.

Patented June 13; 1893.

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JOSEPH O. F. DICK, OF LA GRANGE, ILLINOIS.

DISPLAY-STAY FOR SHOES.

srncrmcncrxon forming part of Letters Patent No. 499,375, dated June 13, 1893.

- Application filed October 10, 1892. Serial No. 448,348. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOSEPH O. F. DICK, a citizen of the United States, residing at La Grange, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Display -Stays for Shoes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a device for causing a high shoe when displayed in a showwindow or show-case to stand in an attractive and natural form, that is to say without having its upper part lopped over as is the case when it is unsupported, and without appearing filled out as it does when stuffed as with cotton.

The nature of my invention, and the features of construction, generic and specific in which it consists, will be readily understood from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view in elevation of the preferred form of my device applied to a shoe, a portion of the latter being removed to show the manner of application; Figs. 2, 3, 4:, and 5 perspective views of details of the device shown in Fig.1; and Fig. 6, a view similar to Fig. 1, but showing a modification of the device.

Referring to the form illustrated in Fig. 1, A is a distender consisting of the three parts represented in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 secured together; that is to say, first, of the approximately U shaped plate Bhaving slots tin its sides, and ratchet-teeth s on top of one arm; second, a similar approximately U-shaped plate B likewise provided with slots 6, but having its arms closer together than those of the plate B, whereby they slide within the latter, and having upon one of its arms a spring pawl r to engage the ratchet-teeth s; and third, a collar 0 fitting between the arms of the U-shaped plate B and provided with a downward extending spring pawl q, and with lugs 10 fitting within the slots 25 as guides, and receiving screws 0 on opposite sides to secure the parts together, as shown in Fig. 1.

D is a post of just such diameter as to pass freely through the collar 0, and having its upper portion provided with circumferential ratchet-teeth n. It is desirable to provide the rounded ends of the plates B and B with points m, as shown.

To apply the device the smooth lower portion of the post is inserted through the collar 0 from the top, and the post is continued through until the collar is about half way up the ratchet of the post, which causes the pawl q to engage one of the teeth. If the post is passed through too far the most convenient remedy is to pull it entirely through and insert it over again. Either before or after inserting the post, as described, the distender A is contracted by raising the pawl r free from its ratchet, and pressing the ends of the plates Band B toward each other until the compass is sufficiently reduced to permit it readily to enter the shoe top. The device is then inserted with the smooth portion of the post downward into the buttoned shoe E until the end of the post rests upon the sole of is at the right height upon the post, just below the kid marginal lining Z, usually provided within the top of the shoe. The distender is then lengthened by inserting a finger within the curved end 'i of each of the U-shaped plates and pulling them from each other until there is a tight fit in the shoe top. Then for the final operation the distender is grasped firmly from the outside of the leather between the thumb and finger of one hand, and pulled upward, while the post is pushed downward with the thumb of the other hand, causing the shoe to stretch upward and assume and maintain just the form that is desired for display in a window or show-case. To allow the device to be withdrawn the pawl r is raised from its engaging tooth, and the distender brought together by pressure against the ends from the outside of the leather.

The term shoe-top, as here used, does not include the entire upper portion, but refers only to that part which, in shoes of ordinary height, embraces and extends above the ankle of the wearer. One of the chief advantages of my invention lies in the fact that the distender is applied to this part only. When so applied, forcing the distender upward by means of the support, as described, produces in the most desirable way the efiect aimed at.

In the modification shown in Fig. 6 the disthe shoe. This will bring the distender, if it,

tender A is in the form of a spring, and is mounted upon a collar 0', preferably by being coiled about a groove in the collar as shown, and the collar is provided with a spring pawl q, as in the form shown in Fig. 1. This device is applied in the same general way as the one first described, except that the distender being a spring expands of itself. For insertion and withdrawal the ends of the spring are pressed toward each other, and to stretch up the shoe top after insertion, the collar 0 is grasped through the leather and lifted and the post pressed down as in the case of the other device. It is advisable to provide the distender A as well as the distender A with points m.

In matters of detail of construction my device is capable of various other modifications, and the broadest of the subjoined claims is intended to include generically a distender operating within the shoe-top substantially in the manner shown and described, and a support therefor resting upon the sole of the shoe, the parts being so related as to permit the shoe to be stretched upward and maintained in that position, by the vertical adj ustment of the distender.

VVhatI claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A display stay for shoes, comprising in combination a distender to fit within the shoe- D, the collar 0 provided with a pawl q to engage the ratchet of the post, sliding U-shaped plates B and B mounted adj ustably upon the collar 0, and means for retaining the plates in their adjusted position, substantially as described.

4. In combination with the ratcheted post -D, the adjustable distender mounted thereon, comprising in combination the U-shaped plate l3 having the slots t and ratchet teeth 3, U-shaped plate B having the slots t and pawl r, collar 0 having the pawl q, and screws 0 connecting the plates and collar together, substantially as described.

JOSEPH C. F. DICK.

In presence of-- H. J. FROST, M. E. WINN. 

